Three-dimensional multi-vector tables

ABSTRACT

Approaches presented herein enable optimizing a display of tabular data from a 2-D table as a folding 3-D table having a plurality of vectors in a GUI. More specifically, a scaling ratio is calculated to fit the plurality of vectors within a display area of the GUI based on a cumulative width of the plurality of vectors and a width of the display area of the GUI. This scaling ratio is applied to a width of at least one vector to yield a modified width of the vector. The 2-D table is then rendered as a 3-D table in which the at least one vector is depicted as a modified vector angled between a horizontal and a vertical axis. This modified vector has an actual width equal to the modified width and a diagonal length equal to the width of the at least one vector.

The present patent document is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/849,757, filed Dec. 21, 2017, entitled “THREE-DIMENSIONALMULTI-VECTOR TABLES”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a solution for optimizing adisplay of tabular data and, more specifically, to optimizing a displayof tabular data by rendering a three-dimensional multi-vector table in agraphic user interface (GUI).

BACKGROUND

In daily work, many people often use office software tools to manage andview various data, from student test scores to corporate financialreports. Popular data analysis office software tools include MicrosoftExcel, Apache OpenOffice Calc, LibreOffice, Google Sheets, and ZohoSheet. (Excel is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation,OpenOffice is a trademark of The Apache Software Foundation, LibreOfficeis a registered trademark of The Document Foundation, Google Sheets is atrademark of Google Inc., and Zoho is a registered trademark of ZohoCorporation.) These software tools are generally characterized by thepresentation of a tabular spreadsheet in a user interface showingmultiple columns and rows in which a user may enter data. It isgenerally the practice among spreadsheet users to treat each column asan attribute class (e.g., names, ID numbers) and each row as an objecthaving several specific attributes associated with it (e.g., John Smith,12345).

SUMMARY

Approaches presented herein enable optimizing a display of tabular datafrom a 2-D table as a folding 3-D table having a plurality of vectors ina GUI. More specifically, a scaling ratio is calculated to fit theplurality of vectors within a display area of the GUI based on acumulative width of the plurality of vectors and a width of the displayarea of the GUI. This scaling ratio is applied to a width of at leastone vector to yield a modified width of the vector. The 2-D table isthen rendered as a 3-D table in which the at least one vector isdepicted as a modified vector angled between a horizontal and a verticalaxis. This modified vector has an actual width equal to the modifiedwidth and a diagonal length equal to the width of the at least onevector.

One aspect of the present invention includes a method for optimizing adisplay of tabular data from a two-dimensional (2-D) table as a foldingthree-dimensional (3-D) table having a plurality of vectors in a graphicuser interface (GUI), the method comprising: calculating a scaling ratiobased on a cumulative width of the plurality of vectors and a width of adisplay area in the GUI; applying the scaling ratio to a width of atleast one vector of the plurality of vectors to yield a modified widthof the at least one vector; and depicting the at least one vector as amodified vector angled between a horizontal and a vertical axis withrespect to the 2-D table, the modified vector having an actual widthequal to the modified width and a diagonal length equal to the width ofthe at least one vector.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a computer system foroptimizing a display of tabular data from a two-dimensional (2-D) tableas a folding three-dimensional (3-D) table having a plurality of vectorsin a graphic user interface (GUI), the computer system comprising: amemory medium comprising program instructions; a bus coupled to thememory medium; and a processor, for executing the program instructions,coupled to a tabular data display optimization engine via the bus thatwhen executing the program instructions causes the system to: calculatea scaling ratio based on a cumulative width of the plurality of vectorsand a width of a display area in the GUI; apply the scaling ratio to awidth of at least one vector of the plurality of vectors to yield amodified width of the at least one vector; and depict the at least onevector as a modified vector angled between a horizontal and a verticalaxis with respect to the 2-D table, the modified vector having an actualwidth equal to the modified width and a diagonal length equal to thewidth of the at least one vector.

Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a computer programproduct for optimizing a display of tabular data from a two-dimensional(2-D) table as a folding three-dimensional (3-D) table having aplurality of vectors in a graphic user interface (GUI), the computerprogram product comprising a computer readable hardware storage device,and program instructions stored on the computer readable hardwarestorage device, to: calculate a scaling ratio based on a cumulativewidth of the plurality of vectors and a width of a display area in theGUI; apply the scaling ratio to a width of at least one vector of theplurality of vectors to yield a modified width of the at least onevector; and depict the at least one vector as a modified vector angledbetween a horizontal and a vertical axis with respect to the 2-D table,the modified vector having an actual width equal to the modified widthand a diagonal length equal to the width of the at least one vector.

Still yet, any of the components of the present invention could bedeployed, managed, serviced, etc., by a service provider who offers toimplement passive monitoring in a computer system.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide related systems,methods, and/or program products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this invention will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an architecture in which the invention may be implementedaccording to illustrative embodiments;

FIG. 2 shows a system diagram describing the functionality discussedherein according to illustrative embodiments;

FIG. 3 shows a traditional display of a spreadsheet table in a GUIaccording to illustrative embodiments;

FIG. 4 shows a rendering of a spreadsheet file 222 as a 3-D corrugatedspreadsheet table in a GUI 440 on an external display according toillustrative embodiments;

FIG. 5 shows rotations of vectors of a 2-D spreadsheet table about axisto form angled vectors according to illustrative embodiments;

FIG. 6 shows an example of a user-manipulated 3-D table according toillustrative embodiments;

FIG. 7 shows an example of a 3-D table with a hidden vector according toillustrative embodiments;

FIG. 8 shows an example of a 3-D table with a locked, non-corrugatedvector according to illustrative embodiments; and

FIG. 9 shows a process flowchart for optimizing a display of tabulardata according to illustrative embodiments.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merelyrepresentations, not intended to portray specific parameters of theinvention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodimentsof the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting inscope. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Illustrative embodiments will now be described more fully herein withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrativeembodiments are shown. It will be appreciated that this disclosure maybe embodied in many different forms and should not be construed aslimited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to thoseskilled in the art.

Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”,“an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unlessthe context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of theterms “a”, “an”, etc., do not denote a limitation of quantity, butrather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items.Furthermore, similar elements in different figures may be assignedsimilar element numbers. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises” and/or “comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including”, whenused in this specification, specify the presence of stated features,regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, it may be appreciated that termssuch as “processing,” “detecting,” “determining,” “evaluating,”“receiving,” or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of acomputer or computing system, or similar electronic data center device,that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physicalquantities (e.g., electronic) within the computing system's registersand/or memories into other data similarly represented as physicalquantities within the computing system's memories, registers or othersuch information storage, transmission or viewing devices. Theembodiments are not limited in this context.

As stated above, embodiments described herein provide for optimizing adisplay of tabular data from a 2-D table as a folding 3-D table having aplurality of vectors in a GUI. More specifically, a scaling ratio iscalculated to fit the plurality of vectors within a display area of theGUI based on a cumulative width of the plurality of vectors and a widthof the display area of the GUI. This scaling ratio is applied to a widthof at least one vector to yield a modified width of the vector. The 2-Dtable is then rendered as a 3-D table in which the at least one vectoris depicted as a modified vector angled between a horizontal and avertical axis. This modified vector has an actual width equal to themodified width and a diagonal length equal to the width of the at leastone vector.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a computerized implementation 10 of anembodiment for optimizing a display of tabular data will be shown anddescribed. Computerized implementation 10 is only one example of asuitable implementation and is not intended to suggest any limitation asto the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein. Regardless, computerized implementation 10 is capableof being implemented and/or performing any of the functionality setforth hereinabove.

In computerized implementation 10, there is a computer system/server 12,which is operational with numerous other general purpose or specialpurpose computing system environments or configurations. Examples ofwell-known computing systems, environments, and/or configurations thatmay be suitable for use with computer system/server 12 include, but arenot limited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

This is intended to demonstrate, among other things, that the presentinvention could be implemented within a network environment (e.g., theInternet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), avirtual private network (VPN), etc.), a cloud computing environment, acellular network, or on a stand-alone computer system. Communicationthroughout the network can occur via any combination of various types ofcommunication links. For example, the communication links can compriseaddressable connections that may utilize any combination of wired and/orwireless transmission methods. Where communications occur via theInternet, connectivity could be provided by conventional TCP/IPsockets-based protocol, and an Internet service provider could be usedto establish connectivity to the Internet. Still yet, computersystem/server 12 is intended to demonstrate that some or all of thecomponents of implementation 10 could be deployed, managed, serviced,etc., by a service provider who offers to implement, deploy, and/orperform the functions of the present invention for others.

Computer system/server 12 is intended to represent any type of computersystem that may be implemented in deploying/realizing the teachingsrecited herein. Computer system/server 12 may be described in thegeneral context of computer system/server executable instructions, suchas program modules, being executed by a computer system. Generally,program modules may include routines, programs, objects, components,logic, data structures, and so on, that perform particular tasks orimplement particular abstract data types. In this particular example,computer system/server 12 represents an illustrative system foroptimizing a display of tabular data. It should be understood that anyother computers implemented under the present invention may havedifferent components/software, but can perform similar functions.

Computer system/server 12 in computerized implementation 10 is shown inthe form of a general-purpose computing device. The components ofcomputer system/server 12 may include, but are not limited to, one ormore processors or processing units 16, a system memory 28, and a bus 18that couples various system components including system memory 28 toprocessing unit 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Processing unit 16 refers, generally, to any apparatus that performslogic operations, computational tasks, control functions, etc. Aprocessor may include one or more subsystems, components, and/or otherprocessors. A processor will typically include various logic componentsthat operate using a clock signal to latch data, advance logic states,synchronize computations and logic operations, and/or provide othertiming functions. During operation, processing unit 16 collects androutes signals representing inputs and outputs between external devices14 and input devices (not shown). The signals can be transmitted over aLAN and/or a WAN (e.g., T1, T3, 56 kb, X.25), broadband connections(ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM), wireless links (802.11, Bluetooth, etc.), andso on. In some embodiments, the signals may be encrypted using, forexample, trusted key-pair encryption. Different systems may transmitinformation using different communication pathways, such as Ethernet orwireless networks, direct serial or parallel connections, USB,Firewire®, Bluetooth®, or other proprietary interfaces. (Firewire is aregistered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Bluetooth is a registeredtrademark of Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)).

In general, processing unit 16 executes computer program code, such asprogram code for optimizing a display of tabular data, which is storedin memory 28, storage system 34, and/or program/utility 40. Whileexecuting computer program code, processing unit 16 can read and/orwrite data to/from memory 28, storage system 34, and program/utility 40.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia, (e.g., VCRs, DVRs, RAID arrays, USB hard drives, optical diskrecorders, flash storage devices, and/or any other data processing andstorage elements for storing and/or processing data). By way of exampleonly, storage system 34 can be provided for reading from and writing toa non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media (not shown and typicallycalled a “hard drive”). Although not shown, a magnetic disk drive forreading from and writing to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk(e.g., a “floppy disk”), and/or an optical disk drive for reading fromor writing to a removable, non-volatile optical disk such as a CD-ROM,DVD-ROM, or other optical media can be provided. In such instances, eachcan be connected to bus 18 by one or more data media interfaces. As willbe further depicted and described below, memory 28 may include at leastone program product having a set (e.g., at least one) of program modulesthat are configured to carry out the functions of embodiments of theinvention.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium including, but not limited to, wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, radio-frequency (RF), etc., or anysuitable combination of the foregoing.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation. Memory28 may also have an operating system, one or more application programs,other program modules, and program data. Each of the operating system,one or more application programs, other program modules, and programdata or some combination thereof, may include an implementation of anetworking environment. Program modules 42 generally carry out thefunctions and/or methodologies of embodiments of the invention asdescribed herein.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a consumer to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via I/O interfaces22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 can communicate with one ormore networks such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide areanetwork (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via networkadapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20 communicates with the othercomponents of computer system/server 12 via bus 18. It should beunderstood that although not shown, other hardware and/or softwarecomponents could be used in conjunction with computer system/server 12.Examples include, but are not limited to: microcode, device drivers,redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays, RAID systems,tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a system diagram describing the functionalitydiscussed herein according to an embodiment of the present invention isshown. It is understood that the teachings recited herein may bepracticed within any type of computing environment, including, but notlimited to a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computingenvironment). A stand-alone computer system/server 12 is shown in FIG. 2for illustrative purposes only. In the event the teachings recitedherein are practiced in a networked computing environment, each clientneed not have a tabular data display optimization engine 200(hereinafter “system 200”). Rather, all or part of system 200 could beloaded on a server or server-capable device that communicates (e.g.,wirelessly) with the clients to provide for optimizing a display oftabular data in a graphic user interface (GUI). Regardless, as depicted,system 200 is shown within computer system/server 12. In general, system200 can be implemented as program/utility 40 on computer system 12 ofFIG. 1 and can enable the functions recited herein.

Along these lines, system 200 may perform multiple functions similar toa general-purpose computer. Specifically, among other functions, system200 can optimize a display of tabular data in a GUI. To accomplish this,system 200 can include a set of components (e.g., program modules 42 ofFIG. 1) for carrying out embodiments of the present invention. Thesecomponents can include, but are not limited to, command receiver 202,which can contain rotator 204 and scroller 206 for interpreting specificcommands; rotation calculator 208; generator 210; and renderer 212.

Through computer system/server 12, system 200 can be in communicationwith spreadsheet tool 220. Although shown as distinct from computersystem/server 12 in FIG. 2, in some embodiments spreadsheet tool 220 canreside on computer system/server 12 or on a computer system/serverhaving similar attributes as computer system/server 12 as describedabove with respect to FIG. 1. Furthermore, although also shown asdistinct from system 200 in FIG. 2, in some embodiments spreadsheet tool220 can be program/utility 40 on computer system 12 with system 200being a component (e.g., program module 42 of FIG. 1) of spreadsheettool 220. In some embodiments, spreadsheet tool 220 has access to one ormore computer files 222 configured to store tabular data, such as an“.xls”, “.xlt”, or “.xm I” file. Spreadsheet tool 220 can further haveone or more controls operated in a GUI for manipulating the appearanceof tabular data displayed in the GUI, including rotation control 224 andscroll control 226. Spreadsheet tool 220 can display a spreadsheet tableor other tabular data for viewing by user 230 on external display 228,which can be connected to a computer system on which spreadsheet tool220 runs or in which spreadsheet tool 220 is in communication. One ormore external devices 232, such as a mouse or keyboard, can also beconnected to a computer system on which spreadsheet tool 220 runs andcan receive input from user 230.

Before proceeding, it should also be understood that, althoughillustrative examples discussed herein will depict the vectors beingrotated according to embodiments of the present invention as columns ofa spreadsheet table, the methodologies discussed herein can also beapplied to rows and other tabular displays.

Referring now to FIG. 3, traditional display 300 of spreadsheet table342 in GUI 340 is shown. The inventors of the present invention havefound that traditional spreadsheet and other tabular software tools,used frequently to analyze and manipulate data 344 in many fields ofwork, can be cumbersome, with displayed tabular data 344 often difficultto view. For instance, spreadsheet 342 may have too many vectors 346A-N(singular 346N) or improperly sized vectors, preventing easy viewing ofdatasets when displayed in GUI 342 on external display 228. Some vectors346A-N, such as obscured vector 348, may be partially or completelyhidden from view. Some vectors 346A-N may be too wide to display at thesame time and/or separated by too many other vectors 346A-N andtherefore too far apart for simultaneous viewing. Therefore, it is oftennecessary for the traditional spreadsheet software tool to providecontrols within the GUI by which user 230 may move and manipulatespreadsheet table 342, such as scroller 352 to scroll back and forthbetween different vectors 346A-N and/or width adjuster 350 to adjust andre-adjust the width of vectors 346A-N when user 230 wants to look atdifferent vectors of data. As a result, when a user attempts to adjustGUI 340 to show a particular vector 346N, the traditional spreadsheetsoftware tool typically must compensate for the display space consumedby this particular vector, and therefore forces other vectors 348 out ofthe display area of GUI 340 and/or narrows other vectors shown in GUI340, sometimes to the point where data 344 contained therein can nolonger be read. Then, when user 230 attempts to manipulate GUI 342 tofind currently hidden or obscured vector 348, the traditionalspreadsheet software tool must again adjust the GUI 340, potentiallyobscuring yet another vector of data.

Accordingly, the inventors of the present invention have developed asystem that permits spreadsheet software to provide a user with a fullyviewable spreadsheet table. Furthermore, embodiments of the presentinvention permit spreadsheet software to present a user with a GUIhaving minimal controls for manipulating all vectors in an easy andefficient manner. These and other features of the present invention arerealized by enabling a GUI to display an optimized spreadsheet tablethat, from a user's perspective, is rendered to appear as a multi-foldedthree-dimensional (3-D) corrugation, thereby decreasing display spaceconsumed by each vector of the spreadsheet table.

Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention offer severaladvantages. By optimizing a spreadsheet table as a multi-folded 3-Dcorrugation, spreadsheet tools can display vectors that otherwise, forlack of adequate space in a two-dimensional rendering of the spreadsheettable, may have to be hidden or obscured outside the field of view ofthe display. This allows a spreadsheet tool to show a user more data ina single display, offering the user the opportunity to see a wholepicture of the data at once. Moreover, initially presenting thespreadsheet table as a 3-D corrugation decreases the number ofadjustments that a user will attempt to make in a GUI of the spreadsheetsoftware tool, thereby decreasing the number of display changes thespreadsheet software tool will need to calculate. To the extent that auser might desire to adjust the display, the spreadsheet software toolcan receive these adjustments as a request to increase/decrease a foldof the spreadsheet table or a request to scroll through vectors on thetable, thereby making user interactions with a GUI of the spreadsheetsoftware tool simple and more efficient.

Accordingly, referring now to FIG. 4 in connection with FIG. 2, arendering of spreadsheet file 222 as 3-D corrugated spreadsheet table400 (hereinafter 3-D table 400) in GUI 440 on external display 228according to illustrative embodiments of the present invention is shown.Referring also to FIG. 5, rotations of vectors 346A-N of two-dimensional(2-D) spreadsheet table 342 about axis (a_(i,i+1), i=0,2,4, . . . , N)to form vectors 446A-N (singular 446N) of 3-D table 400 according toillustrative embodiments of the present invention are shown. In someembodiments of the present invention, spreadsheet tool 220 may initiallydisplay spreadsheet file 222 as a traditional 2-D rendering, asspreadsheet table 342 is depicted in FIG. 3. In this case, system 200can receive a request from spreadsheet tool 220 (e.g., initiated by user230 through external device 232 or initiated by spreadsheet tool 220when the width of spreadsheet table 342 exceeds a width of GUI 440) tore-render spreadsheet file 222 as 3-D table 400. In other embodiments,system 200 can receive a request from spreadsheet tool 220 (e.g., whenspreadsheet tool 220 initially opens spreadsheet file 222) to initiallyrender spreadsheet file 222 as 3-D table 400.

In any case, command receiver 202 can receive the request to renderspreadsheet file 222 as 3-D table 400 along with scaling information,including width (W) of the display area (line A of FIGS. 5) and 2-Dwidth (w_(i)) of each vector 346N (line B of FIG. 5), as well as,optionally, cell content 344. Rotation calculator 208 receives thisscaling information and calculates a scaling ratio (r) by which to scalethe widths of vectors 346A-N. Scaling ratio (r) is calculated in thefollowing manner:

$r = \frac{W}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; w_{i}}$

where there are N vectors 346A-N in spreadsheet table 342, the width ofeach vector 346N is w_(i) (i=1,2, . . . , N), and the width of thedisplay area is W. Rotation calculator 208 applies scaling ratio (r) towidth (w_(i)) of each vector 346N to find width (m_(i)) of each vector446N of 3-D table 400, such that:

m _(i) =w _(i) ·r(i=1, 2, . . . , N)

where m_(i) is the width of each vector 446N of 3-D table 400. Forvectors of equal width, the angle of rotation (θ) about axis (a_(i,i)+1)of vectors 446A-N can be calculated, for any vector (i) as:

$\theta_{i} = {\cos^{- 1}\frac{m_{i}}{w_{i}}}$

Generator 210 uses the actual width (m_(i)) and the apparent width(w_(i)) of each vector 446N of 3-D table 400 to recast spreadsheet table342 as 3-D table 400. As shown in line C of FIG. 5, each vector 446N canbe modeled as a right triangle, with apparent width (w_(i)) as thehypotenuse and actual width (m_(i)) as the horizontal leg of thetriangle. Each cell 456 therefore appears as a parallelogram, having onepair of sides parallel with this hypotenuse of the right triangle andthe other pair of sides parallel with the vertical leg of the triangle.Content 444 of cell 456 is likewise written slanted, parallel to thehypotenuse of the right triangle. Generator 210 can pair adjacentvectors 446A-N, such as (1,2), (3,4), etc., to form each wave of 3-Dtable 400.

The above discussion assumes that all vectors 346A-N are of the samewidth, but that need not be the case. As shown in line D of FIG. 5,vectors 346A-N may differ in width, such as vector 1, having widthw_(1′), and vector 2, having width w_(2′). In this case, rotationcalculator 208 continues to calculate scaling ratio (r) as above:

$r = \frac{W}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; w_{i}}$

Further, as above, rotation calculator 208 applies scaling ratio (r) towidth (w_(i)) of each vector 346N to find width (m_(i)) of each vector446N of 3-D table 400, such that:

m _(i) =w _(i) ·r(i=1,2, . . . N)

Accordingly, for w₁>w₂:

${m_{1^{\prime}} = {{w_{1^{\prime}} \cdot r} = {w_{1^{\prime}} \cdot \frac{W}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; w_{i}}}}},{m_{2^{\prime}} = {{w_{2^{\prime}} \cdot r} = {w_{2^{\prime}} \cdot \frac{W}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; w_{i}}}}},{m_{1^{\prime}} > m_{2^{\prime}}}$

The angle of rotation of vectors 446A-N of differing widths differsbetween these vectors, but can still be calculated for any vector i as:

$\theta_{i} = {\cos^{- 1}\frac{m_{i}}{w_{i}}}$

Accordingly, for w₁>w₂:

${\alpha = {\cos^{- 1}\frac{m_{1}}{w_{1}}}},{\beta = {\cos^{- 1}\frac{m_{i}}{w_{i}}}},{\alpha > \beta}$

As described above with respect to line C of FIG. 5, each of vectors 1and 2 can be modeled as abutting right triangle, as shown in line E ofFIG. 5, with apparent width (w_(i)) as the hypotenuse and actual width(m_(i)) as the horizontal leg of the triangle.

In some embodiments, generator 210 can generate 3-D table 400 bygenerating instructions for spreadsheet tool 220 to render 3-D table 400or to modify spreadsheet table 342 into 3-D table 400. Renderer 212 cantransmit these instructions to spreadsheet tool 220 for rendering. Insome other embodiments, renderer 212 can directly render 3-D table 400from the rendering instructions generated by generator 210. In any case,system 200 provides GUI 440 with a depiction of spreadsheet file 222 as3-D table 400 for display in external display 228.

In some embodiments, generator 210 can determine whether cell content344 (444 in FIG. 4) will be legible to user 230 at the angle of rotation(θ) of each vector 446N calculated by rotation calculator 208. In someembodiments, the maximum angle of rotation (θ_(max)) can be set bysystem 200 or spreadsheet tool 220. In the case of the latter, commandreceiver 202 can receive the maximum angle of rotation (θ_(max)) as ahard limitation on how far vectors 446A-N can be rotated around axis(a_(i,i+1)). In the case of the former, the maximum angle of rotation(θ_(max)) could be determined a number of ways, including, but notlimited to, being preset by a developer, learned by generator 210 basedon user feedback, or determined by generator 210 in real time. In thecase of the last, generator 210 can test render one or more cells 456 of3-D table 400 and use image recognition technology to assess whether thedata in the tested cell 456 would be legible to human user 230. Itshould be understood that the maximum angle of rotation (θ_(max)) maynot be the same for all angles of rotation (θ_(i)) of all vectors446A-N. For instance, a vector that contains strings may have a lowermaximum angle of rotation (θ_(max)) than a vector that containsintegers, because strings are generally harder to read at an angle thanintegers.

In the case where the angle of rotation calculated by rotationcalculator 208 is greater than the maximum angle of rotation(θ_(i)>θ_(max)) for a particular vector 446N, generator 210 can adjustthat angle to the maximum angle of rotation θ_(i′)=θ_(max). This alsohas the effect of lengthening the actual width (m_(i)) of thatparticular vector. In order to compensate for this increase in the widthof one vector, generator 210 can further determine whether any otherangle of rotation for any other vector in 3-D table 400 is under themaximum angle of rotation for that particular vector. In the case thatgenerator 210 find that an angle of rotation of another vector is underthe maximum angle for that particular vector, generator 210 can increasethat angle up to the maximum angle of rotation for that particularvector (θ_(i)≤θ_(max)), thereby decreasing the actual width (m_(i)) ofthat particular vector, to keep the overall width of 3-D table 400 underor at the width (W) of the display area of GUI 440. In the case thatthis (θ_(all)=θ_(max)) is insufficient to keep the overall width of 3-Dtable 400 under or at the width (W) of the display area of GUI 440,generator 210 can generate 3-D table 400 as wider than the display areaof GUI 440 and provider slider 452. Generator 210 can configure slider452 to be tied to scroll control 226 of spreadsheet tool 220 as aninteractive user control in GUI 440 that, when interacted with by user230, causes spreadsheet tool 220 to slide 3-D table 400 back and forthin the display area of GUI 440. In some embodiments, generator 210 can,but need not in all embodiments, maintain all angles of rotation ofvectors 446A-N at the maximum angle of rotation (θ_(all)=θ_(max)) toreduce the amount 3-D table 400 might be slid back and forth when viewedby user 230.

Referring now to FIG. 6 in connection with FIG. 4, an illustrativeexample of a user-manipulated 3-D table 600 is shown according toembodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, generator 210can provide GUI 440 with one or more rotation manipulators 450associated with vectors 446A-N of 3-D table 400. Generator 210 canconfigure rotation manipulators 450 to be tied to rotation control 224of spreadsheet tool 220 as an interactive user control in GUI 440 that,when interacted with by user 230, causes the angle of rotation (θ_(i))of a particular vector 446N (manipulated vector 648) with which rotationmanipulator 450 is associated to change to manipulated angle of rotation(φ_(i)) with actual width (m_(i)) changing to manipulated actual width(q_(i)). The angle of rotation can be increased (θ_(i)<φ_(i) andm_(i)>q_(i)) or decreased (θ_(i)>φ_(i) and m_(i)<q_(i)) depending on howuser 230 interacts with rotation manipulator 450. For example, generator210 can configure rotation manipulator 450 such that a user interactionin one direction increases the angle of rotation, while a userinteraction in the opposing direction decreases the angle of rotation.

In some embodiments, generator 210 can further instruct or configurerotation control 224 to respond to changes in angle of rotation (φ_(i))or actual width (q_(i)) of manipulated vector 648 in 3-D manipulated 3-Dtable 600 by adjusting other vectors 446A-N (adjusted vectors 648 A-N)in 3-D table 400. For example, generator 210 can instruct or configurerotation control 224 to proportionally change the angle of rotation(θ_(i)′) and actual width (m₁′) of adjusted vectors 646A-N (singular646N) in manipulated 3-D table 600 from those of 3-D table 400 to keepthe 3-D table the same width as the display area of GUI 440.

In some other embodiments, user interactions with rotation manipulators450 are relayed by rotation control 224 to system 200, where theseinteractions are interpreted by rotator 204 of command receiver 202 ascommands to adjust 3-D table 400. Accordingly, rotation calculator 208can receive new angle of rotation (φ_(i)) or new actual width (q_(i))set by user 230 and, from these, calculate a new scaling ratio (r′) bywhich to scale the widths of vectors 646A-N. New scaling ratio (r_(m)′)by which to scale the existing actual vector widths (m_(i)) iscalculated in the following manner:

$r_{m}^{\prime} = \frac{W - {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{k}\; q_{i}}}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; m_{i}}$

where there are k user-manipulated vectors 648 and a total of N othervectors 646A-N in user-manipulated 3-D table 600, the actual width ofeach vector 648 is q₁ (i=1,2, . . . , k) and actual width of each othervector 646N is m_(i) (i=1,2, . . . , N) , and the width of the displayarea of GUI 440 is W. Rotation calculator 208 applies new scaling ratio(r_(m)′) to actual width (m_(i)) of each vector 446A-N to find adjustedactual width (m_(i)′) of each vector 646A-N of user-manipulated 3-Dtable 600, such that:

m _(i) ′=m _(i) ·r _(m)′(i=1,2, . . . , N)

where m_(i)′ is the adjusted width of each vector 646A-N ofuser-manipulated 3-D table 600. For each vector 646A-N, the angle ofrotation (θ_(i)′) about axis a_(i,i+1), i=0,2,4, . . . , N of vectors646A-N can be calculated as:

$\theta_{i}^{\prime} = {\cos^{- 1}\frac{m_{i}^{\prime}}{w_{i}}}$

From the results of these calculations, generator 210 can generate 3-Dtable 400 (using the same methodologies as described above with respectto the initial recast of spreadsheet table 342 as 3-D table 400) asuser-manipulated 3-D table 600 having one or more vectors 648 having auser-selected angle of rotation φ_(i) and the remaining vectors 646A-Nin user-manipulated 3-D table 600 adjusted to keep the 3-D table thesame width (W) as the display area of GUI 440.

Referring now to FIG. 7 in connection with FIG. 4, an illustrativeexample of 3-D table 700 with hidden vector 748 is shown according toembodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, generator 210can configure rotation manipulators 450 associated with vectors 446A-Nof 3-D table 400 to hide a particular vector 446N (hidden vector 748).Generator 210 can configure rotation manipulators 450 and rotationcontroller 224 to hide hidden vector 748 in response to one or moreoccurrences. For example, in the case that rotation control 224 receivesan indication that user 230 is interacting with rotation manipulators450 in GUI 440 in such a way as to indicate that user 230 wants to hidehidden vector 748 (e.g., a double click), then generator 210 canconfigure rotation control 224 to hide hidden vector 748. In anotherexample, in the case that rotation control 224 determines that user 230is attempting to rotate vector 748 in GUI 440 past the maximum angle ofrotation (θ_(max)), such that content in vector 748 would no longer belegible, then generator 210 can configure rotation control 224 to hidehidden vector 748. Generator 210 can also configure rotation control 224to un-hide hidden vector 748 in response to an indication that user 230wants to reveal vector 748 (e.g., a double click in GUI 440 on the linebetween vectors 746A and 746B directly adjacent to hidden vector 748).This process of hiding vectors can be used to bring together two vectors746A-N that normally would not be adjacent.

Similar to the illustrative example discussed above with reference toFIG. 6, in some embodiments, generator 210 can instruct or configurerotation control 224 to respond to changes to 3-D table 400, such as thehiding of vector 748 by adjusting remaining vectors 746A-N (singular746N). In some other embodiments, user interactions with rotationmanipulators 450 are relayed by rotation control 224 to system 200,where these interactions are interpreted by rotator 204 of commandreceiver 202 as commands to adjust 3-D table 400. Similar to the processdiscussed above with reference to FIG. 6, rotation calculator 208 can,based on the information received by command receiver 202, calculate anew scaling ratio (r_(m)″) by which to scale the existing actual vectorwidths (m_(i)) of vectors 746A-N with the following calculations:

${r_{m}^{''} = \frac{W}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; m_{i}}},{m_{i}^{''} = {m_{i} \cdot r_{m}^{''}}},\left( {{i = 1},2,\ldots \;,N} \right),{\theta_{i}^{''} = {\cos^{- 1}\frac{m_{i}^{''}}{w_{i}}}}$

where there are N visible vectors 746A-N in 3-D table 700, the actualwidth of each other vector 746N is m_(i) (i=1,2, . . . , N), the widthof the display area of GUI 440 is W, m_(i)″ is the adjusted width ofeach vector 746A-N of 3-D table 700, and θ″ is the angle of rotationabout axis a_(i,i+1), i=0,2,4, . . . , N of vectors 746A-N. Accordingly,from the results of these calculations, generator 210 can generate 3-Dtable 400 (using the same methodologies as described above with respectto the initial recast of spreadsheet table 342 as 3-D table 400) as 3-Dtable 700, having one or more hidden vectors 748, to keep 3-D table 700the same width (W) as the display area of GUI 440.

Referring now to FIG. 8 in connection with FIG. 4, an illustrativeexample of 3-D table 800 with a locked, non-corrugated vector 848 isshown according to embodiments of the present invention. Generator 210can also configure rotation manipulators 450 associated with vectors446A-N of 3-D table 400 to lock a particular vector 446N (locked vector848) front facing (w_(i)), such that the angle of rotation is zero(θ_(i)=0). This locking of vector 848 can be in response to anoccurrence, such as rotation control 224 receiving an indication thatuser 230 is interacting with rotation manipulators 450 in GUI 440 insuch a way as to indicate that user 230 wants to lock vector 848 (e.g.,a click in GUI 440 on rotation manipulator 450). Generator 210 canconfigure rotation control 224 to lock vector 848 in response to thissignal. Generator 210 can also configure rotation control 224 to unlocklocked vector 848 in response to an indication that user 230 wants torotate vector 848 (e.g., a second click in GUI 440 on rotationmanipulator 450). This process of locking vectors can be used to makecontent 444 of vector 848 more easily readable to user 230 compared towhen vector 848 was tilted/rotated.

Similar to the illustrative example discussed above with reference toFIG. 6, in some embodiments, generator 210 can instruct or configurerotation control 224 to respond to changes to 3-D table 400, such as thelocking of vector 848 by adjusting remaining vectors 846A-N (singular846N). In some other embodiments, user interactions with rotationmanipulators 450 are relayed by rotation control 224 to system 200,where these interactions are interpreted by rotator 204 of commandreceiver 202 as commands to adjust 3-D table 400. Similar to the processdiscussed above with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, rotation calculator208 can, based on the information received by command receiver 202,calculate a new scaling ratio (r_(m)′″) by which to scale the existingactual vector widths (m_(i)) of vectors 846A-N with the followingcalculations:

${r_{m}^{''\prime} = \frac{W - {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{k}\; w_{i}}}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; m_{i}}},{m_{i}^{''\prime} = {m_{i} \cdot {r_{m}^{''\prime}\left( {{i = 1},2,\ldots \;,N,} \right)}}}$$\theta_{i}^{''\prime} = {\cos^{- 1}\frac{m_{i}^{\prime}}{w_{i}}}$

where there are k locked vectors 848 and a total of N other vectors846A-N in 3-D table 800, the actual width of each locked vector 848 isw_(i) (i=1,2, . . . , k) and the actual width of each other vector 846Nis m_(i) (i=1,2, . . . , N), and the width of the display area of GUI440 is W, m_(i)′″ is the adjusted width of each vector 846A-N of 3-Dtable 800, and θ′″ is the angle of rotation about axis a_(i,i+1),i=0,2,4, . . . , N of vectors 846A-N. Accordingly, from the results ofthese calculations, generator 210 can generate 3-D table 400 (using thesame methodologies as described above with respect to the initial recastof spreadsheet table 342 as 3-D table 400) as 3-D table 800, having oneor more locked vectors 848, to keep 3-D table 800 the same width (W) asthe display area of GUI 440.

In some embodiments, system 200 can configure 3-D table 400 to alwayshave at least one front facing (w_(i), θ_(i)=0) vector 848 when 3-Dtable 400 is rendered in GUI 440. More specifically, in someembodiments, generator 210 can tie slider 452 in GUI 440 to the at leastone front-facing vector 848. The selection of which vector of vectors464A-N is rendered as front-facing vector 848 can be in response to anoccurrence, such as scroll control 226 receiving an indication that user230 is interacting with slider 452 in GUI 440 through external device 14in such a way as to indicate that user 230 wants to focus on aparticular vector 446N and to view that particular vector asfront-facing vector 848. Another such occurrence can be scroll control226 receiving an indication that user 230 is interacting with cell 456of a particular vector 446N in GUI 440 through external device 14 insuch a way as to indicate that user 230 wants to focus on thatparticular cell 456 and to view that particular cell 456 asfront-facing. Generator 210 can configure scroll control 226 to facefront front-facing vector 848 in response to this signal. Generator 210can also configure scroll control 226 to re-rotate front-facing vector848 and front face a different vector of vectors 846A-N in response toan indication that user 230 wants to focus/front-face a different vector(e.g., moving slider 452 in GUI 440). This process of focusing vectorscan be used to make content 444 of front-facing vector 848 more easilyreadable to user 230 compared to when vector 848 is tilted/rotated.

Generator 210 can instruct or configure scroll control 226 to respond toscrolling by user 230 in GUI 440 displaying 3-D table 800 byfront-facing vector 848 and rotating remaining vectors 846A-N (singular846N). In some other embodiments, user interactions with slider 452 arerelayed by scroll control 226 to system 200, where these interactionsare interpreted by scroller 206 of command receiver 202 as commands torender one vector of 3-D table 800 as front-facing and the remainingvectors as rotated. Rotation calculator 208 can, based on theinformation received by command receiver 202, calculate a scaling ratio(r′) by which to scale the original widths of vectors 346A-N that havenot been selected to face front. Scaling ratio (r′) is calculated in thefollowing manner:

$r = \frac{W - {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{k}\; w_{pi}}}{{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N}\; w_{i}} - {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{k}\; w_{pi}}}$

where there are k locked vectors 848 (p₁, p₂, . . . , p_(k) and k≥1),there are N vectors 346A-N in table 342, the width of each vector isw_(i) (i=1,2, . . . , N), and the width of the display area of GUI 440is W. Rotation calculator 208 applies scaling ratio (r′) to width(w_(i)) of each vector 346N that have not been selected to face front tofind actual width (m₁′) of each vector 846N of 3-D table 800, such that:

m _(i) ′=w _(i) ·r′(i=1,2, . . . , N; i≠p ₁ , p ₂ . . . , p _(k) ; k≥1)

where m_(i)′ is the width of each non-front-facing vector 846N of 3-Dtable 800. The angle of rotation (θ) about axis (a_(i,i+1)) of vectorsnon-front-facing vector 846A-N can be calculated as:

$\theta_{i} = {\cos^{- 1}\frac{m_{i}^{\prime}}{w_{i}}}$

Accordingly, from the results of these calculations, generator 210 cangenerate 3-D table 800 (using the same methodologies as described abovewith respect to the initial recast of spreadsheet table 342 as 3-D table400), having front-facing vectors 848, while making 3-D table 800 thesame width (W) as the display area of GUI 440.

It should be understood that in some embodiments, generator 210 can alsogenerate animation of 3-D table 800 to transition 3-D table 800 from afirst rendering having a first front-facing vector 848 to a secondrendering having a second, different front-facing vector 848. Forexample, generator 210 can use an animation tool to generate graphicaldepictions of 3-D table 800 in intermediate positions between the firstand second rendering. In such embodiments, generator 210 can, forexample, animate 3-D table 800 to show the first front-facing vector 848rotating away from the horizontal (θ₁ increases) while secondfront-facing vector 848 rotates towards the horizontal (θ₂ decreases tozero). Generator 210 can also apply similar animation techniques tovector rotations in any of the 3-D tables 400, 600, 700, or 800discussed above.

The methodologies discussed hereinabove permit generator 210 to generatea 3-D corrugated spreadsheet table in which rotation calculator 208 candynamically calculate the angle of rotation (θ) of each vector 446N (or646N, 746N, 846N) in response to interactions by user 230 throughexternal device 14 with GUI 440 of spreadsheet tool 220. Suchinteractions may include rotating, hiding, and locking vectors 446A-Nvia rotation manipulator 450, as well as scrolling andfront-facing/focusing vector 848 of vectors 846A-N via slider 452.

As depicted in FIG. 9, in one embodiment, a system (e.g., computersystem/server 12) carries out the methodologies disclosed herein. Shownis a process flowchart 900 for optimizing a display of tabular data froma two-dimensional (2-D) table as a folding three-dimensional (3-D) tablehaving a plurality of vectors in a graphic user interface (GUI). At 902,rotation calculator 208 calculates a scaling ratio (r) based on acumulative width (Σ_(i=1) ^(N) w_(i)) of a plurality of vectors 346A-Nand a width (W) of a display area in GUI 440. At 904 rotation calculator208 applies scaling ratio (r) to a width (w_(i)) of at least one vector346N of plurality of vectors 346A-N to yield a modified width (m_(i)) ofat least one vector 346N. At 906, generator 210 depicts at least onevector 346N as modified vector 446N angled between a horizontal and avertical axis with respect to 2-D table 342, modified vector 446N havingan actual width equal to the modified width (m_(i)) and a diagonallength equal to the width (w_(i)) of at least one vector 346.

Process flowchart 900 of FIG. 9 illustrates the architecture,functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems,methods, and computer program products according to various embodimentsof the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart orblock diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion ofinstructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

Some of the functional components described in this specification havebeen labeled as systems or units in order to more particularly emphasizetheir implementation independence. For example, a system or unit may beimplemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits orgate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips,transistors, or other discrete components. A system or unit may also beimplemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmablegate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, orthe like. A system or unit may also be implemented in software forexecution by various types of processors. A system or unit or componentof executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical orlogical blocks of computer instructions, which may, for instance, beorganized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, theexecutables of an identified system or unit need not be physicallylocated together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored indifferent locations which, when joined logically together, comprise thesystem or unit and achieve the stated purpose for the system or unit.

Further, a system or unit of executable code could be a singleinstruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed overseveral different code segments, among different programs, and acrossseveral memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identifiedand illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in anysuitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure.The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may bedistributed over different locations including over different storagedevices and disparate memory devices.

Furthermore, systems/units may also be implemented as a combination ofsoftware and one or more hardware devices. For instance, program/utility40 may be embodied in the combination of a software executable codestored on a memory medium (e.g., memory storage device). In a furtherexample, a system or unit may be the combination of a processor thatoperates on a set of operational data.

As noted above, some of the embodiments may be embodied in hardware. Thehardware may be referenced as a hardware element. In general, a hardwareelement may refer to any hardware structures arranged to perform certainoperations. In one embodiment, for example, the hardware elements mayinclude any analog or digital electrical or electronic elementsfabricated on a substrate. The fabrication may be performed usingsilicon-based integrated circuit (IC) techniques, such as complementarymetal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), bipolar, and bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS)techniques, for example. Examples of hardware elements may includeprocessors, microprocessors, circuits, circuit elements (e.g.,transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so forth), integratedcircuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmablelogic devices (PLD), digital signal processors (DSP), field programmablegate array (FPGA), logic gates, registers, semiconductor devices, chips,microchips, chip sets, and so forth. However, the embodiments are notlimited in this context.

Any of the components provided herein can be deployed, managed,serviced, etc., by a service provider that offers to deploy or integratecomputing infrastructure with respect to a process for optimizing adisplay of tabular data. Thus, embodiments herein disclose a process forsupporting computer infrastructure, comprising integrating, hosting,maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code into a computingsystem (e.g., computer system/server 12), wherein the code incombination with the computing system is capable of performing thefunctions described herein.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a method that performs theprocess steps of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/orfee basis. That is, a service provider, such as a Solution Integrator,can offer to create, maintain, support, etc., a process for optimizing adisplay of tabular data. In this case, the service provider can create,maintain, support, etc., a computer infrastructure that performs theprocess steps of the invention for one or more customers. In return, theservice provider can receive payment from the customer(s) under asubscription and/or fee agreement, and/or the service provider canreceive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or morethird parties.

Also noted above, some embodiments may be embodied in software. Thesoftware may be referenced as a software element. In general, a softwareelement may refer to any software structures arranged to perform certainoperations. In one embodiment, for example, the software elements mayinclude program instructions and/or data adapted for execution by ahardware element, such as a processor. Program instructions may includean organized list of commands comprising words, values, or symbolsarranged in a predetermined syntax that, when executed, may cause aprocessor to perform a corresponding set of operations.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

It is apparent that there has been provided herein approaches tooptimize a display of tabular data. While the invention has beenparticularly shown and described in conjunction with exemplaryembodiments, it will be appreciated that variations and modificationswill occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to beunderstood that the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for optimizing a display of tabular datafrom a two-dimensional (2-D) table as a folding three-dimensional (3-D)table having a plurality of vectors in a graphic user interface (GUI),the method comprising: calculating a scaling ratio based on a cumulativewidth of the plurality of vectors and a width of a display area in theGUI; determining a maximum angle of rotation for at least one vector ofthe plurality of vectors based on a type of content contained in the atleast one vector; applying the scaling ratio to a width of the at leastone vector of the plurality of vectors to yield a modified width of theat least one vector; calculating an angle of rotation for the at leastone vector of the plurality of vectors were the at least one vectordepicted as a modified vector angled between a horizontal and a verticalaxis with respect to the 2-D table, the modified vector having an actualwidth equal to the modified width and a diagonal length equal to thewidth of the at least one vector; adjusting a rotation of at least oneother vector of the plurality of vectors in the case that the angle ofrotation for the at least one vector exceeds the maximum angle ofrotation for the at least one vector; and depicting the at least onevector with an angle of rotation that does not exceed the maximum angleof rotation.
 2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:applying the scaling ratio to a width of each vector of the plurality ofvectors to yield a plurality of modified widths, each associated withone vector of the plurality of vectors, a cumulative width of themodified widths being equal to the width of the display area in the GUI;and depicting, for each vector of the plurality of vectors, the vectoras a modified vector angled between a horizontal and a vertical axiswith respect to the 2-D table, the modified vector having an actualwidth equal to the modified width associated with the vector and adiagonal length equal to the width of the vector.
 3. The method of claim2, the method further comprising: receiving a request to modify theangle between the horizontal and the vertical axis with respect to the2-D table of a first modified vector, of the plurality of modifiedvectors, to a second angle; calculating a second modified width of thefirst modified vector based on the second angle; calculating a secondscaling ratio based on the cumulative width of the plurality of modifiedvectors save the first modified vector, the width of the display area inthe GUI, and the second modified width; applying, for each modifiedvector save the first modified vector, the second scaling ratio to themodified width of the modified vector to yield a third modified width, acumulative width of the third modified widths and the second modifiedwidth being equal to the width of the display area in the GUI; depictingthe first modified vector as a second modified vector angled between thehorizontal and the vertical axis with respect to the 2-D table, thesecond modified vector having an actual width equal to the secondmodified width associated with the first modified vector and a diagonallength equal to the width of the vector associated with the firstmodified vector; and depicting, for each modified vector save the firstmodified vector, the modified vector as a third modified vector angledbetween the horizontal and the vertical axis with respect to the 2-Dtable, the third modified vector having an actual width equal to thethird modified width associated with the modified vector and a diagonallength equal to the width of the vector associated with the modifiedvector.
 4. The method of claim 2, the method further comprising:receiving a request to hide a modified vector of the plurality ofmodified vectors; calculating a second scaling ratio based on thecumulative width of the plurality of modified vectors save the modifiedvector to be hidden and the width of the display area in the GUI;applying, for each modified vector save the modified vector to behidden, the second scaling ratio to the modified width of the modifiedvector to yield a second modified width, a cumulative width of thesecond modified widths being equal to the width of the display area inthe GUI; and not depicting the modified vector to be hidden, whiledepicting, for each modified vector save the hidden modified vector, themodified vector as a second modified vector angled between thehorizontal and the vertical axis with respect to the 2-D table, thesecond modified vector having an actual width equal to the secondmodified width associated with the modified vector and a diagonal lengthequal to the width of the vector associated with the modified vector. 5.The method of claim 2, the method further comprising: receiving arequest to lock a first modified vector, of the plurality of modifiedvectors, as front-facing; calculating a second scaling ratio based onthe cumulative width of the plurality of modified vectors save themodified vector to be locked, the width of the display area in the GUI,and the width of the vector of the 2-D table associated with themodified vector to be locked front-facing; applying, for each modifiedvector save the modified vector to be locked, the second scaling ratioto the modified width of the modified vector to yield a second modifiedwidth, a cumulative width of the second modified widths and the width ofthe vector of the 2-D table associated with the modified vector to belocked front-facing being equal to the width of the display area in theGUI; depicting the modified vector to be locked as the vector of the 2-Dtable associated with the modified vector to be locked; and depicting,for each modified vector save the modified vector to be locked, themodified vector as a second modified vector angled between thehorizontal and the vertical axis with respect to the 2-D table, thesecond modified vector having an actual width equal to the secondmodified width associated with the modified vector and a diagonal lengthequal to the width of the vector associated with the modified vector. 6.The method of claim 1, the calculating the scaling ratio being furtherbased on a width of a first vector, the method further comprising:selecting the first vector as a normal vector with a face coplanar to ahorizontal and a vertical axis with respect to the 2-D table; applyingthe scaling ratio to a width of each vector, save the first vector, ofthe plurality of vectors to yield a plurality of modified widths, eachassociated with one vector of the plurality of vectors, save the firstvector, a cumulative width of the modified widths and the first vectorbeing equal to the width of the display area in the GUI; depicting thefirst vector as the normal vector; depicting, for each vector of theplurality of vectors save the first vector, the vector as a modifiedvector angled between the horizontal and the vertical axis with respectto the 2-D table, the modified vector having an actual width equal tothe modified width associated with the vector and a diagonal lengthequal to the width of the vector; selecting a second vector as a normalvector with a face coplanar to a horizontal and a vertical axis withrespect to the 2-D table; applying the scaling ratio to a width of eachvector, save the second vector, of the plurality of vectors to yield aplurality of modified widths, each associated with one vector of theplurality of vectors, save the second vector, a cumulative width of themodified widths and the second vector being equal to the width of thedisplay area in the GUI; depicting the second vector as the normalvector; and depicting, for each vector of the plurality of vectors savethe second vector, the vector as a modified vector angled between thehorizontal and the vertical axis with respect to the 2-D table, themodified vector having an actual width equal to the modified widthassociated with the vector and a diagonal length equal to the width ofthe vector.
 7. The method of claim 1, the method further comprisinghiding the content of the at least one vector in the case that the angleof rotation of the at least one vector exceeds the maximum angle ofrotation for the at least one vector and no other vector of theplurality of vectors can be further rotated.
 8. A computer system foroptimizing a display of tabular data from a two-dimensional (2-D) tableas a folding three-dimensional (3-D) table having a plurality of vectorsin a graphic user interface (GUI), the computer system comprising: amemory medium comprising program instructions; a bus coupled to thememory medium; and a processor, for executing the program instructions,coupled to a tabular data display optimization engine via the bus thatwhen executing the program instructions causes the system to: calculatea scaling ratio based on a cumulative width of the plurality of vectorsand a width of a display area in the GUI; determine a maximum angle ofrotation for at least one vector of the plurality of vectors based on atype of content contained in the at least one vector; apply the scalingratio to a width of the at least one vector of the plurality of vectorsto yield a modified width of the at least one vector; calculate an angleof rotation for the at least one vector of the plurality of vectors werethe at least one vector depicted as a modified vector angled between ahorizontal and a vertical axis with respect to the 2-D table, themodified vector having an actual width equal to the modified width and adiagonal length equal to the width of the at least one vector; adjust arotation of at least one other vector of the plurality of vectors in thecase that the angle of rotation for the at least one vector exceeds themaximum angle of rotation for the at least one vector; and depict the atleast one vector with an angle of rotation that does not exceed themaximum angle of rotation.
 9. The computer system of claim 8, theinstructions further causing the system to: apply the scaling ratio to awidth of each vector of the plurality of vectors to yield a plurality ofmodified widths, each associated with one vector of the plurality ofvectors, a cumulative width of the modified widths being equal to thewidth of the display area in the GUI; and depict, for each vector of theplurality of vectors, the vector as a modified vector angled between ahorizontal and a vertical axis with respect to the 2-D table, themodified vector having an actual width equal to the modified widthassociated with the vector and a diagonal length equal to the width ofthe vector.
 10. The computer system of claim 9, the instructions furthercausing the system to: receive a request to modify the angle between thehorizontal and the vertical axis with respect to the 2-D table of afirst modified vector, of the plurality of modified vectors, to a secondangle; calculate a second modified width of the first modified vectorbased on the second angle; calculate a second scaling ratio based on thecumulative width of the plurality of modified vectors save the firstmodified vector, the width of the display area in the GUI, and thesecond modified width; apply, for each modified vector save the firstmodified vector, the second scaling ratio to the modified width of themodified vector to yield a third modified width, a cumulative width ofthe third modified widths and the second modified width being equal tothe width of the display area in the GUI; depict the first modifiedvector as a second modified vector angled between the horizontal and thevertical axis with respect to the 2-D table, the second modified vectorhaving an actual width equal to the second modified width associatedwith the first modified vector and a diagonal length equal to the widthof the vector associated with the first modified vector; and depict, foreach modified vector save the first modified vector, the modified vectoras a third modified vector angled between the horizontal and thevertical axis with respect to the 2-D table, the third modified vectorhaving an actual width equal to the third modified width associated withthe modified vector and a diagonal length equal to the width of thevector associated with the modified vector.
 11. The computer system ofclaim 9, the instructions further causing the system to: receive arequest to hide a modified vector of the plurality of modified vectors;calculate a second scaling ratio based on the cumulative width of theplurality of modified vectors save the modified vector to be hidden andthe width of the display area in the GUI; apply, for each modifiedvector save the modified vector to be hidden, the second scaling ratioto the modified width of the modified vector to yield a second modifiedwidth, a cumulative width of the second modified widths being equal tothe width of the display area in the GUI; and not depict the modifiedvector to be hidden, while depicting, for each modified vector save thehidden modified vector, the modified vector as a second modified vectorangled between the horizontal and the vertical axis with respect to the2-D table, the second modified vector having an actual width equal tothe second modified width associated with the modified vector and adiagonal length equal to the width of the vector associated with themodified vector.
 12. The computer system of claim 9, the instructionsfurther causing the system to: receive a request to lock a firstmodified vector, of the plurality of modified vectors, as front-facing;calculate a second scaling ratio based on the cumulative width of theplurality of modified vectors save the modified vector to be locked, thewidth of the display area in the GUI, and the width of the vector of the2-D table associated with the modified vector to be locked front-facing;apply, for each modified vector save the modified vector to be locked,the second scaling ratio to the modified width of the modified vector toyield a second modified width, a cumulative width of the second modifiedwidths and the width of the vector of the 2-D table associated with themodified vector to be locked front-facing being equal to the width ofthe display area in the GUI; depict the modified vector to be locked asthe vector of the 2-D table associated with the modified vector to belocked; and depict, for each modified vector save the modified vector tobe locked, the modified vector as a second modified vector angledbetween the horizontal and the vertical axis with respect to the 2-Dtable, the second modified vector having an actual width equal to thesecond modified width associated with the modified vector and a diagonallength equal to the width of the vector associated with the modifiedvector.
 13. The computer system of claim 8, the instructions furthercausing the system to: calculate the scaling ratio based on a width of afirst vector; select the first vector as a normal vector with a facecoplanar to a horizontal and a vertical axis with respect to the 2-Dtable; apply the scaling ratio to a width of each vector, save the firstvector, of the plurality of vectors to yield a plurality of modifiedwidths, each associated with one vector of the plurality of vectors,save the first vector, a cumulative width of the modified widths and thefirst vector being equal to the width of the display area in the GUI;depict the first vector as the normal vector; depict, for each vector ofthe plurality of vectors save the first vector, the vector as a modifiedvector angled between the horizontal and the vertical axis with respectto the 2-D table, the modified vector having an actual width equal tothe modified width associated with the vector and a diagonal lengthequal to the width of the vector; select a second vector as a normalvector with a face coplanar to a horizontal and a vertical axis withrespect to the 2-D table; apply the scaling ratio to a width of eachvector, save the second vector, of the plurality of vectors to yield aplurality of modified widths, each associated with one vector of theplurality of vectors, save the second vector, a cumulative width of themodified widths and the second vector being equal to the width of thedisplay area in the GUI; depict the second vector as the normal vector;and depict, for each vector of the plurality of vectors save the secondvector, the vector as a modified vector angled between the horizontaland the vertical axis with respect to the 2-D table, the modified vectorhaving an actual width equal to the modified width associated with thevector and a diagonal length equal to the width of the vector.
 14. Thecomputer system of claim 8, the instructions further causing the systemto hide the content of the at least one vector in the case that theangle of rotation of the at least one vector exceeds the maximum angleof rotation for the at least one vector and no other vector of theplurality of vectors can be further rotated.
 15. A computer programproduct for optimizing a display of tabular data from a two-dimensional(2-D) table as a folding three-dimensional (3-D) table having aplurality of vectors in a graphic user interface (GUI), the computerprogram product comprising a computer readable hardware storage device,and program instructions stored on the computer readable hardwarestorage device, to: calculate a scaling ratio based on a cumulativewidth of the plurality of vectors and a width of a display area in theGUI; determine a maximum angle of rotation for at least one vector ofthe plurality of vectors based on a type of content contained in the atleast one vector; apply the scaling ratio to a width of the at least onevector of the plurality of vectors to yield a modified width of the atleast one vector; calculate an angle of rotation for the at least onevector of the plurality of vectors were the at least one vector depictedas a modified vector angled between a horizontal and a vertical axiswith respect to the 2-D table, the modified vector having an actualwidth equal to the modified width and a diagonal length equal to thewidth of the at least one vector; adjust a rotation of at least oneother vector of the plurality of vectors in the case that the angle ofrotation for the at least one vector exceeds the maximum angle ofrotation for the at least one vector; and depict the at least one vectorwith an angle of rotation that does not exceed the maximum angle ofrotation.
 16. The computer program product of claim 15, the computerreadable storage device further comprising instructions to: apply thescaling ratio to a width of each vector of the plurality of vectors toyield a plurality of modified widths, each associated with one vector ofthe plurality of vectors, a cumulative width of the modified widthsbeing equal to the width of the display area in the GUI; and depict, foreach vector of the plurality of vectors, the vector as a modified vectorangled between a horizontal and a vertical axis with respect to the 2-Dtable, the modified vector having an actual width equal to the modifiedwidth associated with the vector and a diagonal length equal to thewidth of the vector.
 17. The computer program product of claim 16, thecomputer readable storage device further comprising instructions to:receive a request to modify the angle between the horizontal and thevertical axis with respect to the 2-D table of a first modified vector,of the plurality of modified vectors, to a second angle; calculate asecond modified width of the first modified vector based on the secondangle; calculate a second scaling ratio based on the cumulative width ofthe plurality of modified vectors save the first modified vector, thewidth of the display area in the GUI, and the second modified width;apply, for each modified vector save the first modified vector, thesecond scaling ratio to the modified width of the modified vector toyield a third modified width, a cumulative width of the third modifiedwidths and the second modified width being equal to the width of thedisplay area in the GUI; depict the first modified vector as a secondmodified vector angled between the horizontal and the vertical axis withrespect to the 2-D table, the second modified vector having an actualwidth equal to the second modified width associated with the firstmodified vector and a diagonal length equal to the width of the vectorassociated with the first modified vector; and depict, for each modifiedvector save the first modified vector, the modified vector as a thirdmodified vector angled between the horizontal and the vertical axis withrespect to the 2-D table, the third modified vector having an actualwidth equal to the third modified width associated with the modifiedvector and a diagonal length equal to the width of the vector associatedwith the modified vector.
 18. The computer program product of claim 16,the computer readable storage device further comprising instructions to:receive a request to hide a modified vector of the plurality of modifiedvectors; calculate a second scaling ratio based on the cumulative widthof the plurality of modified vectors save the modified vector to behidden and the width of the display area in the GUI; apply, for eachmodified vector save the modified vector to be hidden, the secondscaling ratio to the modified width of the modified vector to yield asecond modified width, a cumulative width of the second modified widthsbeing equal to the width of the display area in the GUI; and not depictthe modified vector to be hidden, while depicting, for each modifiedvector save the hidden modified vector, the modified vector as a secondmodified vector angled between the horizontal and the vertical axis withrespect to the 2-D table, the second modified vector having an actualwidth equal to the second modified width associated with the modifiedvector and a diagonal length equal to the width of the vector associatedwith the modified vector.
 19. The computer program product of claim 16,the computer readable storage device further comprising instructions to:receive a request to lock a first modified vector, of the plurality ofmodified vectors, as front-facing; calculate a second scaling ratiobased on the cumulative width of the plurality of modified vectors savethe modified vector to be locked, the width of the display area in theGUI, and the width of the vector of the 2-D table associated with themodified vector to be locked front-facing; apply, for each modifiedvector save the modified vector to be locked, the second scaling ratioto the modified width of the modified vector to yield a second modifiedwidth, a cumulative width of the second modified widths and the width ofthe vector of the 2-D table associated with the modified vector to belocked front-facing being equal to the width of the display area in theGUI; depict the modified vector to be locked as the vector of the 2-Dtable associated with the modified vector to be locked; and depict, foreach modified vector save the modified vector to be locked, the modifiedvector as a second modified vector angled between the horizontal and thevertical axis with respect to the 2-D table, the second modified vectorhaving an actual width equal to the second modified width associatedwith the modified vector and a diagonal length equal to the width of thevector associated with the modified vector.
 20. The computer programproduct of claim 15, the computer readable storage device furthercomprising instructions to: calculate the scaling ratio based on a widthof a first vector; select the first vector as a normal vector with aface coplanar to a horizontal and a vertical axis with respect to the2-D table; apply the scaling ratio to a width of each vector, save thefirst vector, of the plurality of vectors to yield a plurality ofmodified widths, each associated with one vector of the plurality ofvectors, save the first vector, a cumulative width of the modifiedwidths and the first vector being equal to the width of the display areain the GUI; depict the first vector as the normal vector; depict, foreach vector of the plurality of vectors save the first vector, thevector as a modified vector angled between the horizontal and thevertical axis with respect to the 2-D table, the modified vector havingan actual width equal to the modified width associated with the vectorand a diagonal length equal to the width of the vector; select a secondvector as a normal vector with a face coplanar to a horizontal and avertical axis with respect to the 2-D table; apply the scaling ratio toa width of each vector, save the second vector, of the plurality ofvectors to yield a plurality of modified widths, each associated withone vector of the plurality of vectors, save the second vector, acumulative width of the modified widths and the second vector beingequal to the width of the display area in the GUI; depict the secondvector as the normal vector; and depict, for each vector of theplurality of vectors save the second vector, the vector as a modifiedvector angled between the horizontal and the vertical axis with respectto the 2-D table, the modified vector having an actual width equal tothe modified width associated with the vector and a diagonal lengthequal to the width of the vector.